Interventions for HIV and hepatitis C virus infections in recreational drug users.

Recreational drug use and infections are 2 of the major problems in the world today. Both cause serious health problems, such as immunologic impairment leading to opportunistic infections and medical comorbidity, including medical complications associated with, for example, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. Effective and safe interventions (prevention and pharmacologic treatment) are possible for drug-dependent patients with single or dual infections with HIV and HCV if patients in drug treatment programs are closely monitored for adherence and compliance to treatment regimens.